China justifies Taiwan war games as sovereignty defense

China’s staging of live-fire drills around Taiwan on Monday (December 29), deploying troops, warships, fighter jets and artillery for its "Justice Mission 2025" exercises, was a “necessary action to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity”, a foreign ministry spokesperson said.

Speaking to reporters at a regular news briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the exercises served as a “stern punishment for the Taiwan independence separatist forces’ attempt to seek independence through armed means.”

China’s Eastern Theatre Command said it had concentrated forces to the north and southwest of the Taiwan Strait and carried out live firing and simulated strikes on land and maritime targets. The drills would continue on Tuesday and include exercises to blockade the island's main ports and encircle it.

The exercises began 11 days after the U.S. announced $11.1 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, the largest ever weapons package for the island, drawing a protest from China's defense ministry and warnings the military would "take forceful measures" in response.

When asked if the latest drills were in response to the U.S. arms sales, Lin reiterated, “Any vile acts of crossing the line and provoking on the Taiwan issue will inevitably be met with China’s resolute countermeasures.”

Separately, Lin also welcomed remarks from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s remarks published on Sunday (December 28) that Moscow opposes Taiwan’s independence in any form and considers the island an inseparable part of China.

Production: Wang Shubing, Jacinta Goh/Reuters